Events In History
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1 January 1859NZ's first lighthouse, Pencarrow, lit for the first timeThe lighthouse on Pencarrow Head was lit for the first time amid great celebration. After years of inadequate solutions, Wellington finally had a permanent lighthouse – a New Zealand first. Read more...
Articles
Pencarrow Lighthouse
On 1 January 2014 Pencarrow Lighthouse at the entrance to Wellington Harbour celebrates its 155th anniversary. New Zealand’s first permanent lighthouse, Pencarrow was also home to this country’s first – and only – female lighthouse keeper.
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Page 2 – Slow beginnings
It took 20 years for the first settlers to get a decent lighthouse built at the entrance to Wellington Harbour.
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Page 3 – The lighthouse and its surroundings
Key events in the development of the Pencarrow Lighthouse
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Page 4 – Pencarrow Lighthouse keepers
The experiences of the Pencarrow Lighthouse keepers and their families
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Page 5 – Daily life and learning
Daily life at Pencarrow Lighthouse has been recorded for posterity in the countless records and forms the Marine Department required keepers to complete ‘daily, weekly, monthly
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Page 6 – Timeline
A timeline of key dates in the history of Pencarrow Lighthouse
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Page 7 – Further information
This web feature was written by Imelda Bargas and produced by the NZHistory.net.nz team.Links 'Guardians of the Light' - documentary about lighthouse keepers (NZ On Screen
Biographies
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Bennett, Mary Jane
Mary Jane Bennett remains the only woman to have been a lighthouse keeper in New Zealand. She took on the role at Pencarrow from her husband following his death in 1855.
Read more...
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Main image: Pencarrow Lighthouse
Pencarrow Lighthouse was our first permanent light and is the only one to have had a female keeper.
